1
as in to stoop
to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to patronize
to assume or treat with an air of superiority wealthy people who tend to be condescending toward their poor relations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of condescend Lin shows scenes of Irene and Joe facing the judgement of members of their community, as well as condescending school officials trying to make Joe someone else’s problem. Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025 The Biden coverup and the condescending male outreach efforts would have probably been enough to sink the campaign. Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 2 June 2025 History is seldom kind to the men who condescend to it. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 June 2025 Santos bullies her fellow trainees at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center with condescending nicknames and treats patients like game pieces. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for condescend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for condescend
Verb
  • Age had stooped his back and shrunk him to his bones.
    Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 20 July 2025
  • Starmer stooped to pick them up, later explaining that he was compelled to ditch diplomatic decorum because anyone else trying to help risked spooking the president’s security team.
    Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, giving food lovers in the Queen City the chance to patronize their favorite local restaurants or try something completely new – and hopefully delicious.
    Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • Some even receive pushback and patronizing messages from professionals.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Condescend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/condescend. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on condescend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!